Scott Walker had more than $7 million in campaign funds at end of July

He raised more than $1.2 million in July

Gov. Scott Walker raised more than $1.2 million in July and had more than $7 million in the bank as of the end of the month, according to his newest campaign report. Democratic challenger Mary Burke has yet to release her campaign’s figures, which are due by midnight.

Madison — Gov. Scott Walker raised more than $1.2 million in July — more than twice as much as his re-election opponent Mary Burke — and had more than $7 million in the bank as of the end of the month, according to his campaign.

Also, a new filing shows the state teachers union on Friday funneled $1.3 million to the liberal Greater Wisconsin Committee. That group has long run ads backing Democrats for governor and has recently begun a run of ads against Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke, a conservative who serves as a Democrat.

Walker's campaign released his figures Monday before a midnight deadline for all state candidates to show what they raised from July 1 to July 28.

The summary of the report released by the Republican governor's campaign shows Walker spent more than he took in during the month of July — $1.68 million compared with $1.21 million.

Burke, his main Democratic opponent and a former Trek Bicycle Corp. executive, had not filed her report for July as of Monday evening. A spokesman said late Monday that she had raised $500,000 in July and had $1.7 million in cash.

That continued a trend from past reports of Burke raising more than other challengers to incumbent governors but far less than Walker; in the first half of the year, Walker raised $8.3 million and Burke raised $3.6 million.

Walker and Burke are in a tight race, with the two statistically tied in the last two polls from Marquette University Law School.

State Rep. Brett Hulsey of Madison is running against Burke in the Aug. 12 primary, but has lagged far behind her in fundraising and public attention. His report was not available as of Monday evening.

The teachers union — the Wisconsin Education Association Council — has helped fund Greater Wisconsin in the past. WEAC was one of the unions leading the effort to try to recall Walker in 2012 over the limits he put in place on collective bargaining for teachers and most other public workers.

So far, outside groups have not run ads to help Burke, and WEAC's donations to Greater Wisconsin suggest that could change soon. Walker has been helped since the beginning of the year by a series of ads against Burke produced by the Republican Governors Association.

Christie told the New Jersey newspaper that he plans to visit Wisconsin in September or October to support Walker. Christie said he is waiting for Walker's formal invitation before visiting.

Walker and Christie might soon be political rivals, with both governors considered top contenders for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. But the two typically work amicably with one another.

In January, Walker defended Christie during the scandal over the role of Christie appointees in the four-day closure of lanes on New Jersey's George Washington Bridge.

In other races:

■Attorney general: In the race for attorney general, state Rep. Jon Richards (D-Milwaukee) raised about $37,000 in July and had just over $167,000 on hand as of the end of the month, his filing showed.

Richards is in a three-way race for the Democratic nomination. Also running in next week's primary are Jefferson County District Attorney Susan Happ and Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne.

Those candidates had not filed their reports by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's deadline.

The winner of the primary will face Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel, the only Republican in the race. His filing also was not available by the newspaper's deadline.

■Lieutenant governor: In the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor, state Sen. John Lehman took in nearly $30,000 in July — 100 times as much as the $300 raised by long-shot candidate Mary Jo Walters.

Lehman had about $41,000 in his campaign account as of July 28. Walters had nothing on hand at that point.

Wisconsinites get to vote for their choice for lieutenant governor in primaries, but not the general election. For the Nov. 4 election, the lieutenant governor is paired on a ticket with the candidate for governor.

Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch had not reported how much she raised in July by the Journal Sentinel's deadline.

Jason Stein in Madison and Jason Silverstein in Milwaukee, both of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel staff, contributed to this report.

About Patrick Marley

Patrick Marley covers state government and state politics. He is the author, with Journal Sentinel reporter Jason Stein, of "More Than They Bargained For: Scott Walker, Unions and the Fight for Wisconsin.”